Papua and West Papua Provinces have the highest prevalence of HIV/AIDS among all provinces in Indonesia. Also, reports of high risk sexual behaviour in the Papuan community, including having multiple partners and starting sexual relationships at an early age, have motivated researchers to introduce a sexual education for young people in the two provinces. To date, little is known about the sexual knowledge, attitude and behavioural intentions of young people in the two provinces.

This study’s objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of the Responsible Choice Education Program in changing knowledge, attitude and behavioural intentions associated with HIV and sexuality. The research was carried out between February and May 2009.
Sixteen senior high schools in Papua and West Papua Provinces, Indonesia agreed to participate and were randomized to either receive the Responsible Choice Education Program or act as a control group. Subjects were students in year 11, aged 17 years and older. The students in both groups took a pre-test and a post-test (two months later) to assess their knowledge, attitude and behavioural intentions associated with HIV and sexuality. Changes in knowledge, attitude and behaviour intentions were compared between the two groups using a mixed model to account for the cluster randomized design.

Conflict of Interest: None disclosedFinancial Support/Funding: The Australian Demographic and Social Research Institute; Directorate General of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Republic of IndonesiaRecorded at 19th WAS World Congress for Sexual Health - Sexual Health & Rights: A Global Challenge Göteborg (Sweden) - June 21 – 25